USMNT March Friendlies Preview! | Unfiltered Soccer

Summary

Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan & Tim Howard

Episode: USMNT March Friendlies Preview! | Unfiltered Soccer
Date: March 27, 2026
Hosts: Landon Donovan & Tim Howard

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Landon Donovan and Tim Howard deliver an unvarnished preview of the US Men’s National Team’s (USMNT) critical March 2026 friendlies against Belgium and Portugal. As the final international break before the World Cup, these matches serve as both vital preparation and a last-chance proving ground for players on the roster bubble. Landon and Tim dissect the strengths and weaknesses of the USMNT and their opponents, candidly discuss the selection headaches facing coach Mauricio Pochettino, and debate their own ideal lineups for the upcoming matches—all while sprinkling in signature personal anecdotes and strong opinions.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opponent Analysis: Belgium & Portugal

[00:11–03:19]

• Belgium Preview

  • Belgium, FIFA ranked 9th, grouped with Egypt, New Zealand, and potentially Iran.
  • Still have top talent: Jeremy Doku, Leandro Trossard, Kevin De Bruyne (KDB), Youri Tielemans.
  • Landon: “They don’t feel as scary as they did in the past, but still, obviously a good team.”
    [00:34]
  • Tim: “That team had to win the Euros, that team had to win the World Cup. They failed in doing that. When that pressure’s off...might just give them the impetus to go a little bit further.”
    [00:47]

• Portugal Preview

  • Portugal, FIFA ranked 6th, grouped with Colombia, Uzbekistan, and a yet-to-be-determined team.
  • Key players: Nuno Mendes (PSG), Vitinha (PSG), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Rafael Leao (AC Milan), Cristiano Ronaldo (expected to be fit).
  • Landon: “They feel like a better team. They are. They beat Spain in the Nations League...rounding into form right now.”
    [01:55]
  • Tim: “I sort of have them as my sneaky dark horse...I think they’re incredibly coached by Roberto Martinez, former coach of mine at Everton...sensational, tactical, brilliant mind.”
    [02:11 & 02:42]

• Atmosphere Assessment

  • Portugal match in Atlanta expected to have a “massive crowd” and a “big feel.”
  • Landon: “That Portugal game will feel very real.”
    [03:15]

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2. The Bubble: USMNT Roster Stakes

[03:19–04:26]

• Roster Selection Anxiety
  • Landon recalls anxiety from squad selections before previous World Cups.
  • Big camp for “bubble” players like Johnny Cardoso, Aidan Morris, Sebastian Berhalter, Christian Roldan.
  • Some spots virtually locked: Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Haji Wright.
  • Only “three or four spots” genuinely up for grabs.

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3. Coaches, Selections & the "Last Chance Saloon"

[04:26–06:31]

• Pressure on Fringe Players

  • Tim: “If you’re waiting for this moment to sort of be your moment, then you’ve completely missed...the plot over the last 18 months.”
  • Coaches and scouts look for “one good performance...one goal” that can sway decisions.
  • Tim: “They’re constantly in a state of convincing themselves that they’re not wrong...constantly looking for that one thing to go, ‘he just doesn’t have it.’”
    [05:03]

• No Big Roster Surprises Expected

  • Tim: “I don’t think there’s going to be any roster surprises...when the roster comes out...there’s a group of five players that didn’t make it...I’m just going to say, yeah, yeah, okay...that doesn’t bother me.”
    [06:07]

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4. Center Back Crisis & Defensive Concerns

[06:40–08:59]

• Center Back Choices

  • Chris Richards and Tim Ream seen as “locks.”
  • Miles Robinson and Mark McKenzie likely in contention, Austin Trusty possibly on the outs.
  • Noah Kai Banks opting out opened a spot.

• Goalkeeping & Cohesion Issues

  • Tim: “I don’t like our goalkeeping stable...we are days away from the World Cup and we don’t know who our back three is.”
  • Compares to previous squads, where defensive lineup was firmly established far beforehand.
  • Tim: “If we don’t know who our third center back is...they’ll have probably only played together five times. Maybe max. Doesn’t feel great to me.”
    [07:54]

• Call for Defensive Clarity

  • Landon: “It would behoove Pochettino and his staff to just commit to somebody and let them play these two games. Germany, Senegal, and then...have four games together heading into the World Cup.”
    [08:40]

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5. Daring Lineups: Robinson as Center Back & Other Selection Debates

[08:59–13:20]

• Hot Take: Antonee ‘Jedi’ Robinson as Left Center Back

  • Tim lobbies for putting Jedi’s experience into a back three.
  • Tim: “As good as he is everywhere else, I probably trust him as a left side of a three than anybody else...you don’t often see two left footers in a back three, but that might just be our issue.”
    [09:17]
  • Landon disagrees slightly, preferring Chris Richards on the right, Tim Ream in the middle, Jedi left.

• Ideal Starting XI Debates

  • Wing backs: Max Arfsten and Tim Weah (debated).
  • Central midfield: Weston McKennie automatic, then maybe Testman, Aidan Morris, or Roldan.
  • Attacking midfield: Malik Tillman, Gio Reyna, and Christian Pulisic “gonna play.”
  • Striker: Folarin Balogun (Flo).
  • Tim: “If we play with 12, we’re winning the World Cup.” (Jokes about listing too many players.)
    [12:32]

• On Gio Reyna’s Role

  • Tim: “Gio doesn’t get brought into this camp to sit around.”
    [12:52]

• On Christian Roldan’s Spot

  • Tim: “If Christian Roldan doesn’t play this camp or plays a sparing role, he still makes a roster for me.”
    [13:08]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Belgium’s outlook:
  “They don’t feel as scary as they did in the past, but still, obviously a good team.” — Landon [00:34]

• On Portugal’s resurgence:
  “They feel like they are a team that’s rounding into form right now.” — Landon [01:55]

• On coach selection psychology:
  “They’re constantly in a state of convincing themselves that they’re not wrong...constantly looking for that one thing to go, ‘he just doesn’t have it.’” — Tim [05:03]

• On defensive uncertainties:
  “We are days away from the World Cup and we don’t know who our back three is.” — Tim [07:54]

• On pushing for defensive chemistry:
  “The audition time feels like it’s over, like they need to start building some chemistry.” — Landon [08:59]

• On bold lineup picks:
  “As good as he is everywhere else, I probably trust [Antonee] Robinson as a left side of a three than anybody else.” — Tim [09:17]

• Podcast banter:
  “If we play with 12, we’re winning the World Cup.” — Tim [12:32]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Belgium & Portugal Opponent Analysis: 00:11–03:19
• USMNT Roster Bubble—Last Chance for Fringe Players: 03:19–04:26
• Reality of Coach Selection Dynamics: 04:26–06:31
• Defensive Cohesion Issues & Lineup Instability: 06:40–08:59
• Back Three Debate & Starting XI Selection: 08:59–13:20

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Takeaways

• The Belgium and Portugal friendlies are huge opportunities for the USMNT to notch a “signature win” and for players on the brink to stake their claim.
• Landon and Tim both emphasize the need for clarity and stability in the defensive lineup—with Tim particularly vocal about concerns over the current goalkeeping and center back situation.
• Both hosts advocate for making hard decisions now and building chemistry, rather than continuing open auditions so close to the World Cup.
• Hot take: Jedi Robinson as left center back may be unconventional but makes sense given experience and familiarity between defenders.
• The episode is filled with frank, thoughtful discussion that’s both tactical and personal, essential listening for serious USMNT fans.

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Transcript

[A]

Foreign. This bonus content is brought to you by Coca Cola and Carnival Cruise Line.

[B]

Yes, it is, Tim. And we are on the verge of the last international break right before the World Cup. Exciting times for the men's national team. They face Belgium and Portugal in the next few days in Atlanta. We will be there. Quick look at the opponents and then we'll get into the U.S. so, first, Belgium, ranked ninth. They are in Group G with Egypt, New Zealand and potentially Iran. Seems like a pretty easy group for them. Players to watch. Jeremy Doku, Loandro Trussard, KDB De Bruyne, Yuri Tielemans. They don't feel as scary as they did in the past, but still, obviously a good team.

[A]

Yeah, I mean, look, they're. They're not. FIFA ranking has them as ninth. Take that for what it's worth. But that's, you know, that's fairly accurate. Look, I still think ultimately, when we talk about the prep, the teams that we know, the Belgian team that we know over the last decade, there was pressure on that team. That team had to win the Euros, that team had to win the World Cup. They failed in doing that. When that pressure's off and you look at a bunch of players who enjoy playing together, who are still really talented, that might. That might just give them the impetus to go a little bit further. Now, that being said, and we're going to get to Portugal in a second, this sort of match window or these fixtures for the US team, 9th and 6th, those are the rankings of Belgium and Portugal. We've been talking about this current team needing sort of a big win, signature win, you know, a game where they're not supposed to win or they're up against it, that they find a way. This is an opportunity for that over the next 10 days.

[B]

Yeah. And at the right before the World cup too, with Germany and Senegal. So, yeah, yeah. Amazing job as always by Tom King, our guy at U.S. soccer who sets these things up. This is not easy. And he's put together again. Amazing opponents. Portugal, ranked 6. They are in Group K with Colombia, Uzbekistan, and then either New Caledonia, Jamaica or Congo. Probably Congo. Players to watch. Nuno Mendez at PSG alongside his teammate Vicinia. Bruno Fernandez, who's playing really, really well for United right now. And then Rafael Leo at AC Milan. They feel like a better team. They are. You know, they won, they beat Spain, the Nations League. They feel like they are a team that's rounding into form right now.

[A]

Yeah, I sort of have them as my sneaky dark horse.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You know, when you can beat Spain In a Nations League that we talked about, the US Trying to get signature wins, that sort of gives them the confidence that they can go into big, big games and win. They're not going to lack that confidence. I mean, I like. I like a lot of these players, if I'm being. If I'm being brutally honest. Love Bruno Fernandez, Vitina, Cristiano Ronaldo. He'll be fit, right? And he's going to play a part, a huge part. But I think, you know, even Pedro Neto at Chelsea, they're not playing brilliantly, but he's been fantastic. So there's a lot of players. I think they're. I think they're incredibly coached by Roberto Martinez, former coach of mine at Everton. I mean, he's an absolute sensational, tactical, brilliant mind, and he's coaching a bunch of players who enjoy that side of the game, who enjoy taking the ball, who want to play that way. So this will be a really good game.

[B]

This will be a really good team.

[A]

They're a good team. It's going to be a huge challenge, but again, everything's there for it. Like. Like in Atlanta. Massive crowd, big. Like, that's going to feel big, right? I mean, Belgium will feel big, but. But that Portugal game will feel very real.

[B]

Even without Cristiano, who's hurt, you'll still. It's gonna be a real game. Totally. All right, let's move on to the national team. So I was trying to think back of times before, like the, the camp right before the World cup roster got announced and when I was younger in O2, for sure, this was anxiety time. Like, you need to perform to get on the team. And 06 and 10. I knew I was going to be there, so it was different and probably the same. You know, Christian knows he's going to be there. Weston at this point knows he's going to be there. But a lot of guys are still in the bubble and big opportunity for these guys to perform. Guys like Johnny Cardozo, Aiden Moore, Sebastian Berhalter, Christian Roldan. Because Tim Tyler Adams is going to be a part of this group, right? So this is a 27 man squad, but there are four goalkeepers. So this is basically a 26 man squad, like the World Cup. Tyler will be there. Haji Wright, you would think will be there. Diego Luna, maybe. I mean, P loves him, so he might be there. So this could be, you know, this could be three or four spots that are on this roster that are not going to be there.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

When Sergino Des, the other One when the World cup comes around.

[A]

Yeah, I mean, look, it's Last Chance Saloon. My, my, my, my, my issue is if you're waiting, waiting for this moment to sort of be your moment, then you've completely missed, missed the, the plot over the last, I don't know, 18 months. You know, that should have been, you should have been pressing foot down on the gas the second Pochettino walked through the door. But what I would say, when it comes to coaches and scouts and talent evaluators, one thing can tilt it in your favor. And that's a really great thing and a really terrible thing, right? Because they have all this information, they gather all this information about a player and it could hinge on one good performance or one goal. And what I would say to these players, because I know this, as a matter of fact, and I think it's very stupid, but it's human nature. Coaches and scouts and people who are picking, picking teams or rosters or signing contracts, whatever that looks like in the world of football, understand this. They're constantly in a state of convincing themselves that they're not wrong, right? So they'll take a player and they'll have 10 games under their belt or 10 camps. And they're constantly looking for that one thing to go, he's not it. I know that sounds negative, but they're constantly looking for the one thing to go, he just doesn't have it. And I know that sounds crazy, but that's how they operate. So you constantly have to be pushing, pushing, pushing, doing all the right things on and off the field and hopefully then you get a good performance. Because, look, there's going to be some players that miss out. And what I would say about this group, I don't think there's going to be any surprises. Number one, this is my opinion. I don't think there's going to be any roster surprises. And the players that miss out, I'm going to say to you, I'm going to be okay with like when the roster, when the roster comes out, LD and then there's a group of five players that didn't make it and we go, oh, he didn't make it. He didn't. I'm going to look at that group and probably with respect, I'm just going to say, yeah, yeah, okay, like, like, I'm not. That doesn't bother me.

[B]

So it's interesting your point about that, because when I was coaching, we would always say we have to be mindful that you can talk yourselves as a staff into anything. Or talk yourselves out of it.

[A]

Oh my gosh, you so like, oh

[B]

well he didn't do this and he didn't do this and you over like with Gio Reina it's like, well he hasn't, hasn't, hasn't, hasn't. Or is Pochettino saying, yeah, but when he was here last time, remember he scored a goal and had an assist and so you can talk yourself in it. So you know, that's going to be really interesting to follow. Some thoughts on the center back so Chris Richards, Tim Ream feel like they're locks McKenzie, Miles Robinson, Austin Trustee it feels like Trustee probably is one of those guys who won't be here when the final roster is announced. And with Noah Kai Banks opting out, it feels like that's why Trustee came in. Do you think one of the guys like Alex Freeman or maybe Anthony Robinson on the left or or Tanner Testman could end up at center back? Or is it going to be one of Miles McKenzie or Mark or Mark McKenzie and Miles Robinson?

[A]

It's such a good question. LD I'm stumped. Couple things. Couple things. I'm going to go on record and say I do not like this. I don't like, I don't like our I don't like our goalkeeping stable. And so I'm talking back back four, back five with your goalkeeper. I don't like our goalkeeping stable. As, as a whole, I know one guy plays I don't like the fact LD that we are however many days away from the World cup, we're so close that we can say we're days away from the World X amount of days away from the World cup and we don't know who our back three is. Because when I go back to previous iterations, certainly the ones we played in our, our back four minus a fullback, they'd probably play 50 games, 30 games leading like what you knew who was going to play if it wasn't him. Like it wasn't that center back. It was going to be this. We got it. No problem. That checked the box. The fact that we're, we're, we're days away from the World cup and we don't know we don't know who our third center back is. Which also means if we don't know who our third center back is, that means our three center backs who are going to start in the first game of the World cup will have probably only played together five times. Maybe max doesn't doesn't feel great to me. I don't know. I don't know. I don't remember your question. I'm just saying. I don't. It doesn't feel great.

[B]

No. I think at this point it would behoove Pochettino and his staff to just commit to somebody and let them play these two games. Germany, Senegal and then head. So they have four games together heading into the World cup and just say, look, we're making the decision and we're going. Because the audition time feels like it's over, like they need to start building some chemistry.

[A]

I think the. Here's what I would say and I'm happy for. For our listeners to pick the bones out of this. And I appreciate the argument. I would lobby for Anthony Robinson to play in a back three. Here's why. Yeah, because he has so much experience. Okay. And if we're saying what we're lacking is time, we don't have time on our side, we're only going to get a certain amount of games. Right. He has experience in big games. He knows Chris Richards. He knows Tim Ream. Right? Put him in a back three. Now the argument to that is, yeah, but holy heck, he. He's so talented going forward. He can play as a wing back, like. So that would be the argument. I would just say, yeah, but I think I trust Anthony Robinson. As good as he is everywhere else, I probably trust him as a left side of a three than anybody else. Now, that being said, you don't often see two left footers in a back three, but that might just be. That just might be our issue. But then, but then I think that takes. If you put two. If you put two left footers in the back three, that takes Chris Richards out of his strongest position, which is in the center of a three.

[B]

I disagree. I think he's better on the right.

[A]

Okay, then in that case, he plays on the right, Tim in the middle and Robinson. That would make me feel good. Yeah. Okay. I'm okay with it.

[B]

Hot take there. So give me then. So that's your back three, Matt Fries and goal. And then give me the rest of your 11. So the other seven that you'd like

[A]

to see for these games. Oh, man, we got a back three I probably want to see. Do I do. I mean, before Alex Freedman's moot, I'm thinking that's who I want to see. Do I. Do I need to see him now? I don't know. He's not. He's not playing. So maybe. Yeah, maybe sitting on the fence. Let's go. I don't know. I don't know. Max Arson I want to see as a wing back. Okay, yeah. Freeman as the other wing back. Sure, sure.

[B]

Definitely. Okay, so no waya there.

[A]

Yeah, Yeah. I oftentimes have way a higher up, but. But he's now. He's now.

[B]

That's right.

[A]

Playing fullback. Maybe way. Okay, maybe you've convinced me. Maybe way for Freeman because he's playing.

[B]

Okay, so weah Arfston in the middle these games. So no Tyler.

[A]

No Tyler. Tanner Testman, I think. I think Tanner Testman ahead of him. I don't know. Goodness gracious.

[B]

Well, Wes, right?

[A]

Wes, of course. Wes. Of course. Tanner. And then to the right, probably Malik Tillman just to get, you know, Geo ahead of him on one side, Christian on the other. And then Flo. That feels.

[B]

Did you name 12 or 11?

[A]

I don't know. Did I say.

[B]

I don't know. Maybe that was 11, maybe not.

[A]

Maybe that was too many. Okay. But you.

[B]

Yeah. So that back three, I like that. I actually like Anthony Robinson right now. Last year when he was flying, I would say keep him at wing back, but right now that feels appropriate. I think Max Arston on the left is good. I think way up probably right now as a wing back is good. Weston and take your pick. Maybe it's Aiden Morris, maybe it's Roldan. Probably. I'd probably lean towards Aiden Morris and. And Weston ahead of him. How many is that? That's four through there. So three more. Christian, Malik and Flo. Yeah, I like that. I like that.

[A]

11, I think I named 12. But yeah, the. The. The.

[B]

I hope we can play with 12.

[A]

If we play with 12, we're winning the World Cup. Yeah. But I mean, essentially, irregardless of. Of the 11 or 12, those are the players I think I'd like to see. Look, I like Aiden Morris. I still think. I still think Testman gets a look. Gio I think definitely gets a look. He doesn't get brought into this camp to sit around.

[B]

No, that's true.

[A]

That can't be.

[B]

So that would be something. If he ends up just starting and playing even though he doesn't play club softball.

[A]

Sure.

[B]

Well.

[A]

But yeah, you know, and I think that that's obviously, Christian's gonna play. Flo's gonna play.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Malik's gonna play. Yeah. So someone maybe, maybe, maybe one of the guys that I said misses out. Of course. But those are the ones. I think I'm going to see the rest because, like, I'll give you an example. If Christian Roldan doesn't play this camp or plays a sparing role, he still makes a roster for me. Yeah, that makes sense.

[B]

Agreed.

[A]

So, yeah.

[B]

Yeah, agreed. All right, our hot take is Jedi Robinson, left center back. I like that. I mean, I was on the Noah Kai Banks bandwagon, but now that he doesn't want to play for us, then, yeah, for sure, he's no longer relevant to me. So. I like Anthony Robinson. Hot takes, cold coke, open seas. Your Carnival Cruise is waiting. Visit carnival.com unfiltered and enter for your chance to win a Carnival Cruise now.